Hypoestes plant named ‘G14161’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Hypoestes  plant named ‘G14161’, characterized by its upright and mounding plant habit; vigorous growth habit; freely branching habit; large dark green and light red purple bi-colored leaves; and relative tolerance to high light conditions.

Botanical designation: Hypoestes phyllostachya.

Cultivar denomination: ‘G14161’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Hypoestes plant, botanically known as Hypoestes phyllostachya and hereinafter referred to by the name ‘G14161’.

The new Hypoestes plant is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the Inventors in Bellefonte, Pa. The objective of the breeding program is to create new vigorous Hypoestes plants with attractive leaves and high light tolerance.

The new Hypoestes plant is a naturally-occurring branch mutation of an unnamed proprietary selection of Hypoestes phyllostachya, not patented. The new Hypoestes plant was discovered and selected by the Inventors on a single plant within a population of plants of the mutation selection in a controlled greenhouse environment in Bellefonte, Pa. on Aug. 15, 2014.

Asexual reproduction of the new Hypoestes plant by terminal cuttings in a controlled greenhouse environment in Bellefonte, Pa. since Aug. 15, 2014 has shown that the unique features of this new Hypoestes plant are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Hypoestes have not been observed under all possible combinations of environmental conditions and cultural practices. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environmental conditions such as temperature and light intensity, without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘G14161’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘G14161’ as a new and distinct Hypoestes plant:

-   -   1. Upright and mounding plant habit.     -   2. Vigorous growth habit.     -   3. Freely branching habit.     -   4. Large dark green and light red purple bi-colored leaves.     -   5. Relatively tolerant to high light conditions.

Compared to plants of the mutation parent selection, plants of the new Hypoestes differ primarily in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Hypoestes are more vigorous than and not as         compact as plants of the mutation parent selection.     -   2. Plants of the new Hypoestes have thicker leaves than plants         of the mutation parent selection.     -   3. Plants of the new Hypoestes are more tolerant to high light         conditions than plants of the mutation parent selection.

Plants of the new Hypoestes can also be compared to plants of Hypoestes phyllostachya ‘Splash Select Pink’, not patented. In side-by-side comparisons, plants of the new Hypoestes differ primarily from plants of ‘Splash Select Pink’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Hypoestes are more vigorous than and not as         compact as plants of ‘Splash Select Pink’.     -   2. Plants of the new Hypoestes have thicker leaves than plants         of ‘Splash Select Pink’.     -   3. Plants of the new Hypoestes are more tolerant to high light         conditions than plants of ‘Splash Select Pink’.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying photographs illustrate the overall appearance of the new Hypoestes plant showing the colors as true as it is reasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in the photographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors of the new Hypoestes plant.

The photograph at the bottom of the sheet is a side perspective view of a typical plant of ‘G14161’ grown in a container.

The photograph at the top of the sheet is a close-up view of a typical plant of ‘G14161’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photographs and following observations and measurements describe plants grown during the late summer and early autumn in 11.5-cm containers in an acrylic-covered greenhouse in Carleton, Mich. and under cultural practices typical of commercial potted Hypoestes production. During the production of the plants, day temperatures ranged from 18° C. to 28° C. and night temperatures ranged from 18° C. to 25° C. Plants were ten weeks old when the photographs and description were taken. In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 2007 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Hypoestes phyllostachya ‘G14161’. -   Parentage: Naturally-occurring branch mutation of an unnamed     proprietary selection of Hypoestes phyllostachya, not patented. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type.—By terminal cuttings.         -   Time to initiate roots, summer.—About 7 to 10 days at             ambient temperatures about 22° C. to 27° C.         -   Time to initiate roots, winter.—About 10 to 14 days at             ambient temperatures about 18° C. to 23° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted plant, summer.—About three to four             weeks at ambient temperatures about 22° C. to 27° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted plant, winter.—About four weeks at             temperatures about 18° C. to 23° C.         -   Root description.—Medium in thickness, fibrous; close to             white in color, actual color of the roots is dependent on             substrate composition, water quality, fertilizers, substrate             temperature and age of roots.         -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching; medium density. -   Plant description:     -   -   Plant and growth habit.—Upright and mounded plant form;             freely branching habit with about two primary lateral             branches each with about five to seven secondary lateral             branches developing per plant; vigorous growth habit and             moderate growth rate.         -   Plant height.—About 11.5 cm.         -   Plant diameter or spread.—About 17.5 cm by 21 cm.         -   Lateral branches.—Length: About 5.8 cm. Diameter: About             3 mm. Internode length: About 2.2 cm. Strength: Strong.             Aspect: Primary branches are mostly upright; secondary             lateral branches are about 30° to 45° from vertical. Texture             and luster, developing: Sparsely pubescent; semi-glossy.             Texture and luster, developed: Smooth, glabrous;             semi-glossy. Color: Developing, close to 144A; color             becoming closer to 144B with development; at the nodes,             close to 144B. -   Leaf description:     -   -   Arrangement.—Opposite; simple.         -   Length.—About 7 cm.         -   Width.—About 5.5 cm.         -   Shape.—Broadly elliptical.         -   Apex.—Broadly acute.         -   Base.—Attenuate, equilateral.         -   Margin.—Entire.         -   Venation pattern.—Pinnate, arcuate.         -   Texture and luster, upper and lower surfaces.—Smooth,             glabrous; matte.         -   Color.—Developing leaves, upper surface: Ground color, close             to 146A to 146B; interveinal patches/splotches, close to             54D. Developing leaves, lower surface: Ground color, close             to 146A to 146B; interveinal patches/splotches, close to             157C. Fully expanded leaves, upper surface: Ground color,             close to 147A; interveinal patches/splotches, close to 70C             to 70D; venation, close to 147A and 147B. Fully expanded             leaves, lower surface: Ground color, close to 137A to 137C             and 146B; interveinal patches/splotches, close to 145C;             venation, close to N199B.         -   Petioles.—Length: About 3.7 cm. Diameter: About 2 mm.             Strength: Moderately strong. Texture and luster, upper and             lower surfaces: Sparsely pubescent; matte. Color, upper             surface: Close to N199B. Color, lower surface: Close to             N199A. -   Flower description: Flower initiation and development have not been     observed on plants of the new Hypoestes to date. -   Disease & pest resistance: Plants of the new Hypoestes have not been     observed to be resistant to pathogens and pests common to Hypoestes     plants to date. -   Temperature tolerance: Plants of the new Hypoestes have been     observed to tolerate low temperatures about 1.7° C. and to be     suitable for USDA Hardiness Zones 10 and 11. 

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct Hypoestes plant named ‘G14161’ as illustrated and described. 